本經與巴利《中部》第52經的《八城經》(Aṭṭhakanāgarasuttaṃ)及巴利《增支部》第11集第16經的《八城經》的內容都完全相同。

    本篇經文的時空背景是在佛陀剛剛般無餘涅槃後沒有多久的事。經中說法的主角是阿難尊者。重點是阿難尊者闡釋以「定」而生「慧」(觀智),由「慧」(觀智)而斷除一切煩惱,獲得解脫。

    本篇經文在上座部佛教是一篇被視為非常重要的經文,因為本篇經文的內容要旨在於「止」(定)、「觀」(慧)的基本修行法門

選譯自《中阿含經》第217經《八城經》

喬正一白話譯於西元2017/3/5農曆2月初8之八關齋戒日

    我是這樣聽聞的: 

    這是發生在佛陀般無餘涅槃後不久的事。當時,有許多很有名的聖德比丘在古印度波羅利子城行腳,並暫時在該城裡一處名為「雞園」的這個地方落腳。 

    在古印度,有一位名叫「第十」的居士,他是八城人士,也是一個生意人,手中握有許多的好貨,他打算前往波羅利子城販賣做生意。

    這位第十居士很會做生意,因為他的貨品物美價廉,加上時運佳,福報旺,因此他的貨品很快就銷售一空,賺到了很多的錢。他非常得開心,便離開了波羅利子城,前去參訪雞園裡眾多的上尊名德比丘。他對眾比丘跪地稽首頂禮,然後起身恭敬地坐在一旁。 

    諸聖尊名德比丘為他說法,讓他心生法喜,說完法後比丘們便默然而住。 

    這時,第十居士問道:「諸位尊者!請問阿難尊者現在何處?我想要拜見他。」 

    諸上尊比丘回答:「居士!阿難尊者現正在鞞舍離獼猴江邊的高樓觀臺,如果你想要見他,你可以去那裡找他。」 

    於是,第十居士立即從座位起身,對諸比丘跪地稽首頂禮,繞諸比丘三匝後而離去。他趕往阿難尊者的所在,對阿難尊者跪地稽首頂禮,然後恭敬地坐在一旁,說:「尊者!我有一些問題想要向您請益,不知是否可以讓我發問呢?」

    阿難尊者說:「居士!不用客氣。您想問便問,我知無不言。」 

    居士問:「尊者!世尊、如來、無所著、正盡覺成就慧眼,見第一()義。他是否曾說過:只要聖弟子能做到一法(一件事),便可徹底斷除一切的煩惱而得心解脫?」 

    阿難尊者回答:「沒錯。」 

    居士問:「尊者!世尊說的這一法是指那一件事呢?」 

    阿難尊者回答:「居士!多聞聖弟子離欲、離惡不善之法(五蓋)……至得第四禪成就遊,他依此四禪而修觀智,觀法如法;他將能依觀智而獲得解脫的智慧,他便有可能因此而斷盡一切的煩惱,獲得解脫。但如果他還不能完全斷盡一切的煩惱,他或有可能因此法而欲法、愛法、樂法、敬法,因對『法』的愛樂歡喜,而斷除五下分結盡,於色究竟天化生,並在彼天界中等候般無餘涅槃,不再退墮到欲界,成就三果。 

    居士!多聞聖弟子若能修持慈心,心與慈俱,遍滿一方成就遊;如是將慈心擴散至二、三、四方,乃至四維上下,普周一切,心與慈俱,無結無怨,無恚無諍,極廣甚大,無量善修,遍滿一切世間成就遊;以同樣的方式,修持悲…………心與捨俱,無結無怨,無恚無諍,極廣甚大,無量善修,遍滿一切世間成就遊。他依四無量心而觀法如法,他將因觀智而獲得解脫的智慧,他便有可能因此而斷盡一切的煩惱,獲得解脫。但如果他還不能完全斷盡一切的煩惱,他或有可能因此法而欲法、愛法、樂法、敬法,因對『法』的愛樂歡喜,而斷除五下分結盡,於色究竟天化生,並在彼天界中等候般無餘涅槃,不再退墮到欲界,成就三果。 

    以上,就是世尊說的:『聖弟子只要能做到一法(一件事),便可徹底斷除一切的煩惱而得心解脫。』。

    還有,居士!多聞聖弟子超越一切色界定,超越四禪,進入無色界定的八定……乃至非有想非無想定成就遊。他依此無色界定而修觀智,觀法如法;他將能依觀智而獲得解脫的智慧,他便有可能因此而斷盡一切的煩惱,獲得解脫。但如果他還不能完全斷盡一切的煩惱,他或有可能因此法而欲法、愛法、樂法、敬法,因對『法』的愛樂歡喜,而斷除五下分結盡,於無色界天化生,並在彼天界中等候般無餘涅槃,不再退墮到欲界,成就三果。 

    以上,就是世尊說的:『聖弟子只要能做到一法(一件事),便可徹底斷除一切的煩惱而得心解脫。』。」 

    第十居士聽完了阿難尊者的開示後,立即從座位起身,走到阿難尊者的面前,偏袒著衣,雙手合掌說:「尊者!真是太奇妙了!真是太奇特了!我只是問阿難尊者一個有關解脫煩惱的甘露法門,而阿難尊者竟然在同一時間便為我解說了十二道解脫煩惱的甘露法門。

    我今後必將依此十二道甘露法門而修行,我有自信必得解脫。阿難尊者!這就好比離此村不遠之處,有一間大屋子,這間屋子開了十二道門。假設有人住在那間房子,後來有惡人前來縱火,當這間失火時,此人便能以任何一道門使他自己平安逃生;同樣的,尊者!我將能以這十二道不死的甘露法門使自己解脫煩惱。

    阿難尊者!那些外道的梵志大師盡說一些不善的法與律,他們的忠實弟子都仍尚且盡心供養他們的老師;更何況我今天遇到的是百千萬劫難遭遇的大善知識阿難尊者,又豈能不把握千載難逢的良機盡心供養阿難尊者呢?」 

    於是,第十居士趕緊於半夜準備極美味且易於消化的美食,次日清晨鋪設敷座,恭敬邀請雞園裡的比丘眾及鞞舍離的比丘眾匯集一處,為他們準備乾淨的水,親手料理斟酌供養僧眾,令大家皆得飽食。

    當比丘眾都吃飽後,大家收拾缽器,漱口洗缽。

    第十居士將販賣五百種貨物所得的價金去購買房屋,特別供養給阿難尊者。阿難尊者接受了房屋的供養後,又轉施給僧團。 

    第十居士聽聞阿難尊者所說的法,心生歡喜,並依法奉行。 

原文/

我聞如是: 
  一時,佛般涅槃後不久,眾多上尊名德比丘遊波羅利子城,住在雞園。 
  是時,第十居士八城持多妙貨,往至波羅利子城治生販賣。於是,第十居士八城彼多妙貨,貨賣速售,大得財利,歡喜踊躍,出波羅利子城,往詣雞園眾多上尊名德比丘所,稽首禮足,卻坐一面。 
  時,諸上尊名德比丘為彼說法,勸發渴仰,成就歡喜。無量方便為彼說法,勸發渴仰,成就歡喜已,默然而住。 
  時,諸上尊比丘為彼說法,勸發渴仰,成就歡喜已,於是,第十居士八城白曰: 
  「上尊!尊者阿難今在何處?我欲往見。」 
  諸上尊比丘答曰: 
  「居士!尊者阿難今在鞞舍離獼猴江邊高樓臺觀,若欲見者,可往至彼。」 
  爾時,第十居士八城即從{}[]起,稽首諸上尊比丘足,繞三匝而去,往詣尊者阿難所,稽首禮足,卻坐一面,白曰: 
  「尊者阿難!欲有所問,聽我問耶?」 
  尊者阿難告曰: 
  「居士!欲問便問,我聞已當思。」 
  居士問曰: 
  「尊者阿難!世尊、如來、無所著、正盡覺成就慧眼,見第一義,頗說一法,若聖弟子住漏盡無餘,得心解脫耶?」 
  尊者阿難答曰:「如是。」 
  居士問曰: 
  「尊者阿難!世尊、如來、無所著、正盡覺成就慧眼,見第一義,云何說有一法,若聖弟子住漏盡無餘,得心解脫耶?」 
  尊者阿難答曰: 
  「居士!多聞聖弟子離欲、離惡不善之法,……至得第四禪成就遊,彼依此處觀法如法;彼依此處觀法如法,住彼得漏盡者,或有是處。若住彼,不得漏盡者,或因此法欲法、愛法、樂法、靖法,愛樂歡喜,斷五下分結盡,化生於彼而般涅槃,得不退法,終不還此。 
  復次,居士!多聞聖弟子心與慈俱,遍滿一方成就遊,如是,二三四方,四維上下,普周一切,心與慈俱,無結無怨,無恚無諍,極廣甚大,無量善修,遍滿一切世間成就遊。如是,悲…………心與捨俱,無結無怨,無恚無諍,極廣甚大,無量善修,遍滿一切世間成就遊,彼依此處觀法如法;彼依此處觀法如法,住彼得漏盡者,或有是處。若住彼,不得漏盡者,或因此法,欲法、愛法、樂法、{}[]法,愛樂歡喜,斷五下分結盡,化生於彼而般涅槃,得不退法,終不還此,是謂:如來、無所著、正盡覺成就慧眼,見第一義,說有一法,若聖弟子住漏盡無餘,得心解脫。 
  復次,居士!多聞聖弟子度一切色想,……乃至非有想非無想處成就遊,彼於此處觀法如法;彼於此處觀法如法,住彼得漏盡者,或有是處。若住彼,不得漏盡者,或因此法,欲法、愛法、樂法、{}[]法,愛樂歡喜,斷五下分結盡,化生於彼而般涅槃,得不退法,終不還此,是謂:如來、無所著、正盡覺成就慧眼,見第一義,說有一法,若聖弟子住漏盡無餘,得心解脫。」 
  於是,第十居士八城即從{}[]起,偏袒著衣,叉手白曰: 
  「尊者阿難!甚奇!甚特!我問尊者阿難一甘露門,而尊者阿難一時為我說於十二甘露法門。今此十二甘露法門必隨所依,得安隱出。尊者阿難!猶去村不遠,有大屋舍,開十二戶,若人所為故,入彼屋中,復一人來,不為彼人求義及饒益,不求安隱而燒彼屋,尊者阿難!彼人必得於此十二戶隨所依出,得自安隱。如是,我問尊者阿難一甘露門,而尊者阿難一時為我說於十二甘露法門,今此十二甘露法門必隨所依,得安隱出。尊者阿難!梵志法律中說不善法律,尚供養師,況復我不供養大師尊者阿難耶?」 
  於是,第十居士八城即於夜中,施設極妙淨美豐饒食噉含消,施設食已,平旦敷座,請雞園眾及鞞舍離眾皆集一處,自行澡水,則以極妙淨美豐饒食噉含消,手自斟酌,令得飽滿。食訖收器,行澡水竟,持五百種物買屋別施尊者阿難。尊者阿難受已,施與招提僧。 
  尊者阿難所說如是,第十居士八城聞尊者阿難所說,歡喜奉行。 

巴利語經文 
MN.52/(2) Aṭṭhakanāgarasuttaṃ 
   17. Evaṃ me sutaṃ– ekaṃ samayaṃ āyasmā ānando vesāliyaṃ viharati beluvagāmake. Tena kho pana samayena dasamo gahapati aṭṭhakanāgaro pāṭaliputtaṃ anuppatto hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena. Atha kho dasamo gahapati aṭṭhakanāgaro yena kukkuṭārāmo yena aññataro bhikkhu tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā taṃ bhikkhuṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho dasamo gahapati aṭṭhakanāgaro taṃ bhikkhuṃ etadavoca– “kahaṃ nu kho, bhante, āyasmā ānando etarahi viharati? Dassanakāmā hi mayaṃ taṃ āyasmantaṃ ānandan”ti. “Eso, gahapati, āyasmā ānando vesāliyaṃ viharati beluvagāmake”ti. Atha kho dasamo gahapati aṭṭhakanāgaro pāṭaliputte taṃ karaṇīyaṃ tīretvā yena vesālī yena beluvagāmako yenāyasmā ānando tenupasaṅkami; upasaṅkamitvā āyasmantaṃ ānandaṃ abhivādetvā ekamantaṃ nisīdi. 
   18. Ekamantaṃ nisinno kho dasamo gahapati aṭṭhakanāgaro āyasmantaṃ ānandaṃ etadavoca– “atthi nu kho, bhante ānanda, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena ekadhammo akkhāto yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttañceva cittaṃ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṃ gacchanti ananuppattañca anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇātī”ti? 
   “Atthi kho, gahapati, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena ekadhammo akkhāto yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttañceva cittaṃ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṃ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇātī”ti. 
   “Katamo pana, bhante ānanda, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena ekadhammo akkhāto yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttañceva cittaṃ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṃ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇātī”ti? 
   19. “Idha, gahapati, bhikkhu vivicceva kāmehi vivicca akusalehi dhammehi savitakkaṃ savicāraṃ vivekajaṃ pītisukhaṃ paṭhamaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘idampi paṭhamaṃ jhānaṃ abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ. Yaṃ kho pana kiñci abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ tadaniccaṃ nirodhadhamman’ti pajānāti. So tattha ṭhito āsavānaṃ khayaṃ pāpuṇāti. No ce āsavānaṃ khayaṃ pāpuṇāti, teneva dhammarāgena tāya dhammanandiyā pañcannaṃ orambhāgiyānaṃ saṃyojanānaṃ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā. Ayampi kho, gahapati, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena ekadhammo akkhāto yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttañceva cittaṃ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṃ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇāti. 
   20. “Puna caparaṃ, gahapati, bhikkhu vitakkavicārānaṃ vūpasamā ajjhattaṃ sampasādanaṃ …pe… dutiyaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘idampi kho dutiyaṃ jhānaṃ abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ… anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇāti. 
   “Puna caparaṃ, gahapati, bhikkhu pītiyā ca virāgā …pe… tatiyaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘idampi kho tatiyaṃ jhānaṃ abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ …pe… anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇāti. 
   “Puna caparaṃ, gahapati, bhikkhu sukhassa ca pahānā …pe… catutthaṃ jhānaṃ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘idampi kho catutthaṃ jhānaṃ abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ… anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇāti. 
   “Puna caparaṃ, gahapati, bhikkhu mettāsahagatena cetasā ekaṃ disaṃ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṃ, tathā tatiyaṃ, tathā catutthaṃ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṃ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṃ lokaṃ mettāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘ayampi kho mettācetovimutti abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā. Yaṃ kho pana kiñci abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ tadaniccaṃ nirodhadhamman’ti pajānāti. So tattha ṭhito …pe… anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇāti. 
   “Puna caparaṃ, gahapati, bhikkhu karuṇāsahagatena cetasā …pe… muditāsahagatena cetasā …pe… upekkhāsahagatena cetasā ekaṃ disaṃ pharitvā viharati, tathā dutiyaṃ, tathā tatiyaṃ, tathā catutthaṃ. Iti uddhamadho tiriyaṃ sabbadhi sabbattatāya sabbāvantaṃ lokaṃ upekkhāsahagatena cetasā vipulena mahaggatena appamāṇena averena abyābajjhena pharitvā viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘ayampi kho upekkhācetovimutti abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā. Yaṃ kho pana kiñci abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ tadaniccaṃ nirodhadhamman’tntti pajānāti. So tattha ṭhito… anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇāti. 
   “Puna caparaṃ, gahapati, bhikkhu sabbaso rūpasaññānaṃ samatikkamā paṭighasaññānaṃ atthaṅgamā nānattasaññānaṃ amanasikārā ‘ananto ākāso’ti ākāsānañcāyatanaṃ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘ayampi kho ākāsānañcāyatanasamāpatti abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā. Yaṃ kho pana kiñci abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ tadaniccaṃ nirodhadhamman’ti pajānāti. So tattha ṭhito …pe… anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇāti. 
   “Puna caparaṃ, gahapati, bhikkhu sabbaso ākāsānañcāyatanaṃ samatikkamma ‘anantaṃ viññāṇan’ti viññāṇañcāyatanaṃ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘ayampi kho viññāṇañcāyatanasamāpatti abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā. Yaṃ kho pana kiñci abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ tadaniccaṃ nirodhadhamman’ti pajānāti. So tattha ṭhito …pe… anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇāti. 
   “Puna caparaṃ, gahapati, bhikkhu sabbaso viññāṇañcāyatanaṃ samatikkamma ‘natthi kiñcī’ti ākiñcaññāyatanaṃ upasampajja viharati. So iti paṭisañcikkhati– ‘ayampi kho ākiñcaññāyatanasamāpatti abhisaṅkhatā abhisañcetayitā. Yaṃ kho pana kiñci abhisaṅkhataṃ abhisañcetayitaṃ tadaniccaṃ nirodhadhamman’ti pajānāti. So tattha ṭhito āsavānaṃ khayaṃ pāpuṇāti. No ce āsavānaṃ khayaṃ pāpuṇāti, teneva dhammarāgena tāya dhammanandiyā pañcannaṃ orambhāgiyānaṃ saṃyojanānaṃ parikkhayā opapātiko hoti tattha parinibbāyī anāvattidhammo tasmā lokā. Ayampi kho, gahapati, tena bhagavatā jānatā passatā arahatā sammāsambuddhena ekadhammo akkhāto yattha bhikkhuno appamattassa ātāpino pahitattassa viharato avimuttañceva cittaṃ vimuccati, aparikkhīṇā ca āsavā parikkhayaṃ gacchanti, ananuppattañca anuttaraṃ yogakkhemaṃ anupāpuṇātī”ti. 
   21. Evaṃ vutte, dasamo gahapati aṭṭhakanāgaro āyasmantaṃ ānandaṃ etadavoca– “seyyathāpi, bhante ānanda, puriso ekaṃva nidhimukhaṃ gavesanto sakideva ekādasa nidhimukhāni adhigaccheyya; evameva kho ahaṃ, bhante, ekaṃ amatadvāraṃ gavesanto sakideva ekādasa amatadvārāni alatthaṃ bhāvanāya. Seyyathāpi, bhante, purisassa agāraṃ ekādasadvāraṃ, so tasmiṃ agāre āditte ekamekenapi dvārena sakkuṇeyya attānaṃ sotthiṃ kātuṃ; evameva kho ahaṃ, bhante, imesaṃ ekādasannaṃ amatadvārānaṃ ekamekenapi amatadvārena sakkuṇissāmi attānaṃ sotthiṃ kātuṃ. Imehi nāma, bhante, aññatitthiyā ācariyassa ācariyadhanaṃ pariyesissanti, kimaṅgaṃ panāhaṃ āyasmato ānandassa pūjaṃ na karissāmī”ti 
  Atha kho dasamo gahapati aṭṭhakanāgaro pāṭaliputtakañca vesālikañca bhikkhusaṅghaṃ sannipātetvā paṇītena khādanīyena bhojanīyena sahatthā santappesi sampavāresi, ekamekañca bhikkhuṃ paccekaṃ dussayugena acchādesi, āyasmantañca ānandaṃ ticīvarena acchādesi, āyasmato ca ānandassa pañcasatavihāraṃ kārāpesīti.
   Aṭṭhakanāgarasuttaṃ niṭṭhitaṃ dutiyaṃ. 

AN.11.16/ 6. Aṭṭhakanāgarasuttaṃ 

   16. Ekaṃ samayaṃ āyasmā ānando vesāliyaṃ viharati beluvagāmake. Tena kho pana samayena dasamo gahapati aṭṭhakanāgaro pāṭaliputtaṃ anuppatto hoti kenacideva karaṇīyena.……(以下同中部52經,編譯者刪略)